Thursday, March 29, 2007

Golf around Saturn

Alan Shepard teed off from the Moon. Mikhail Tyurin took a swing from the International Space Station. Now, Cassini scientists are giving non-astronauts a chance to see what it would be like to golf from Saturn's moons in their Flash game, Golf Sector 6.

The idea is to see how something like a golf ball would behave in the different gravity environments of these moons. I especially like how you can reset the ball if you accidentally hit it into outer space.

My first shot from Hyperion (seen in image) was definitely out of bounds. I adjusted my stroke for the second shot, and it looked like the ball went about two feet (judging by the inaccurate scale of my golfer).

My third shot, I overshot, but at least I landed on the moon. Shot four ? another foot. Shot five ? another half foot, but into a crater. Shot six ? the ball went on the other side of the hole. Shot seven ? another foot. Shot eight ? another six inches. Getting close! Shots nine and ten ? I'm on the crater rim. Can't quite seem to nudge the ball in. Blasted low gravity. 11 ? I'm in and my rocket-pack takes me to hole #2: Saturn's moon Telesto.

By the time I got to spectacular-looking Phoebe, hole #5, I was already 44 over par. But by that point, it seemed I was getting the hang of the game. I think actually bogeyed on Phoebe. But when I'd finished the front nine, I was still a miserable 72 over par. I improved on the back nine, but not by much.

The Saturn LPGA won't be calling any time soon, I suppose.

To my father's chagrin, I am no better at golf in 1g. I'm also lacking in skills in the video game department, with the exceptions of Dig Dug and Ms. Pac Man.

If you play the Saturn golf game, check out the third hole on the front nine, Enceladus. It is spewing water vapour from its south pole.